Artists "Review" Artists: Donna Dodson on Ryan Burkhart

The Artists "Review" Artists Project was launched on June 30, 2008.  Below is a "review" of Ryan Burkhart's work, Untitled, written by Donna Dodson.  Ryan also provided a second image, Untitled, as well as a brief response to Donna's "review."

Ryan currently resides in Charlotte, NC, and Donna lives in Boston, MA.

If you would like to participate in this project, please email me at jtkirkland [at] gmail [dot] com.

 
Untitled
India Ink, watercolor and colored pencil
11" x 15"
2008

The "Review"

At first glance, when I saw this piece, I thought about flags flapping in the wind like the famous Childe Hassam painting in New York City and my second thought was on the Gates in Central Park that Christo and Jeanne Claude installed a few years ago.  The piece looks layered as if the water color was laid down and the ink applied on top of it however I am not sure what the center region adds to the piece, i.e. the colored pencil section, but the energy and movement of the piece is very wavelike and effective.  There seems to be a kind of schism between the almost pastel washes and bright colors of the water color sections and the dark, imposing, shadowy figures in the foreground.  However these two elements work together seamlessly, disguising the process of making the piece.  These elements work together to give the impression of kites playing in the wind.  Do they have a meaning or are they just playful, whimsical and full of movement?

By Donna Dodson

                  
Untitled
Acrylic, Watercolor, Pumice, and India Ink on Canvas on Panel
14" x 18"
2008

The Response

I have been thinking metaphorically about volume levels lately and attempting to use a variety of disparate media in one piece while achieving an adjusted "visual EQ level," so Donna's formal breakdown is apropos. Equating music and visual art is an old, but worthy problem to pursue, as is playful improvisation. My aim is to playfully balance and manipulate very different materials within the same image. If I can do this while simultaneously creating a static image that still looks fresh and improvisational, not overworked or labored, I feel like I am successful.

By Ryan Burkhart

Previous "Reviews":
Pam Farrell on Ken Weathersby
Paula McCullough on Aric Calfee
Lee Gainer on Leigh Waldron-Taylor
Aric Calfee on Paula McCullough
Matthew Ballou on Heather Levy
Giovanni Garcia-Fenech on TJ Norris
TJ Norris on Giovanni Garcia-Fenech
Susan Tolbert on Mary Klein
Heather Levy on Gail Vollrath
Sharon Butler on Matthew Ballou
Mark L. Power on Steven Alexander
Steven Alexander on Mark L. Power
Molly Norris on M. Trigos
Ken Weathersby on Joseph Barbaccia
Sondra Arkin on Susan Tolbert
John M. Adams on Sharon Butler
Michael Paul Oman-Reagan on Brent Hallard
Daniel Mafe on Pam Farrell
Joanna Knox on John M. Adams
John Lucien Grillo on Joanna Knox
Brent Hallard on Lisa Klow
Joseph Barbaccia on John Lucien Grillo
M. Trigos on Michael Paul Oman-Reagan
Mary Klein on Imants Ozers
Richard Schemmerer on Michael Konrad
Michael Konrad on Richard Schemmerer
Jennifer Mawby on Lee Gainer
Lisa Klow on Molly Norris
Bob Barbera on Jenn Figg
Tom Wagner on Kimberley L. Lindsley
Michelle Hunter on Aaron McMasters
Gail Vollrath on Daniel Mafe
Aaron McMasters on Michelle Hunter
Demetrius Romanos on Chris Rywalt
Chris Rywalt on Demetrius Romanos
Imants Ozers on Sondra Arkin
Timothy Buckwalter on Rob Hitzig
Rob Hitzig on Susan Constanse
Carolina Mayorga on Timothy Buckwalter
Leila Holtsman on Carolina Mayorga
Grant Dale on Matt Hollis
Matt Hollis on Mel Prest
Mel Prest on Marina Reiter
Susan Contanse on Alexandra Silverthorne
Ryan Burkhart on James Bills

Comments

[Brent Hallard]

Good take Donna! Musical chairs Ryan. Black folding chairs with long legs noting away in beds of pastel and heated color -- Does a Giraffe Gallop?
http://www.natureinstitute.org/pub/ic/ic12/giraffe.htm

[Ryan Burkhart]

Thanks Brent, I love that the drawing suggested (coincidently) my favorite animal!

[Donna Dodson]

Thanks alot Brent!
Best of luck Ryan!